A travel-inspired masculine and moody home office

Office

A travel-inspired masculine and moody home office

A small home office gets a sophisticated makeover inspired by worldly wonder.

The dark wall colour in Monica Dyer and Drew Elliott’s 10-by-10-foot second-floor home office serves as a slight departure from the rest of their all-white Toronto Victorian rowhouse, which they renovated top to bottom five years ago. “It’s a relatively small space, so we got experimental,” says Monica. Inspired by the comfortable, masculine aesthetic of places like traditional libraries, time-honoured university offices and old-school gentlemen’s clubs, the couple (Monica works for UN Women and Drew is an alternative-energy developer) wanted to ensure the space was as layered and character-filled as the other rooms in the house. “Even though it’s dark, it’s still a neutral backdrop for all our collections, textiles and art,” says Monica.

The look
Masculine and moody

The decorating idea
The charcoal grey wall colour lends this small home office a sophisticated, cozy feel.

The high-low mix
1 LOW Found on Etsy, the black-framed print lends contrast and whimsy.2 LOW Old books purchased off eBay go a long way toward creating an intimate, library-like feel.3 LOW Homeowners Monica Dyer and Drew Elliott bought the unique globe from an antiques store in Port Hope, Ont.4 LOW A piece of wood, which cost about $100, placed on top of two filing cabinets creates a substantial desk for less.5 LOW The couple picked up the antique kilim on a trip to Morocco. “It was a real deal,” says Monica.

6 HIGH The artwork depicting the Terracotta Warriors is made of layers of paper, creating a 3-D effect that adds dimension to the space.7LOWAntiques market finds like the brass candlesticks are a low-cost way to build in richness.8HIGH A piece that will last a lifetime, a cabinet made of reclaimed barn-board lends character and provides ample storage.